The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight international development goals that were established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration. All 189 United Nations member states at the time (there are 193 currently) and at least 23 international organizations committed to help achieve the following Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Halve the proportion of people living on less than $1 a day Achieve Decent Employment for Women, Men, and Young People Halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger

Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger

Targets

Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education

TargetsBy 2015, all children can complete a full course of primary

schooling, girls and boys Enrolment in primary education Completion of primary education

Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women

Targets

Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education preferably by 2005, and at all levels by 2015

Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality Rate

Targets

Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate

Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health

Targets

Reduce by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio

Achieve, by 2015, universal access to reproductive health

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Other Diseases

Targets

Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDSAchieve, by 2010, universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for all those

who need it Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the incidence of malaria and other

major diseases

Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

TargetsIntegrate the principles of sustainable

development into country policies and programs; reverse loss of environmental resources

Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss

Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation

By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum-dweller

Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development

TargetsDevelop further an open, rule-based, predictable, non-

discriminatory trading and financial system

Address the special needs of landlocked developing countries and small island developing States

In co-operation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable, essential drugs in developing countries

 In co-operation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications

The percentage of people living on less than $1.25/day has been halved globally, more than 2 billion people have gained access to clean water, the number of people affected by malaria and tuberculosis has been minimized and the hunger reduction target is attainable within the prescribed deadline.  However,  other objectives are still far from completion.  It remains to be seen whether these areas in need of further progress will receive adequate attention in coming years, and if new, loftier objectives will be set in spheres of development where previous goals have already been met.

Conclusion